Configure MapServer Cartography

Here we have tried to provide real life examples of symbology in iShare using MapServer along with a Symbols Gallery. See Symbols & Styling for other examples.

You should create your own symbols file in the /mapserver/shared/symbols folder and copy any symbols that you wish from the supplied symbolsms6.1.sym file which you will find in the same folder. Then you will be able to edit this file without a subsequent upgrade to iShare overwriting your changes and as it will only contain the symbols you wish to use will make it easier to manage. Your new symbols file must start with a SYMBOLSET entry and have a matching END and then each individual SYMBOL entry with matching END e.g.

Symbols file

SYMBOLSET
 
	SYMBOL
		NAME 'hospitals'
		TYPE PIXMAP
		IMAGE "isharemaps/hospital-1.png"
	END
 
	SYMBOL
	  NAME 'circle'
	  TYPE ELLIPSE
	  FILLED TRUE
	  POINTS
	    1 1
	  END
	END
 
END

You will also need to edit the .MAP file and change the SYMBOLSET entry near the top to point to your new file e.g.

SYMBOLSET "d:/mapserver/shared/symbols/symbols_myfile.sym"

- 1.1 Symbols file
2 Polygon Fill Types
- 2.1 Using the HATCH symbol
- 2.2 Using Symbols for Filling Polygons
3 Line Styles
- 3.1 Single Line
- 3.2 Double Line
4 Point Styles
- 4.1 Simple PIXMAP (external graphic) symbol
- 4.2 Scaled Symbology
- 4.3 Graduated Point Thematic
5 Boundary Styles
- 5.1 Coloured Boundary – Transparent Fill
- 5.2 Coloured Boundary – Coloured Fill
6 Labelling
7 Filtering
- 7.1 How do I filter a layer to only draw certain features based on a field value?
- 7.2 How do I filter a layer to draw certain features in different styles based on a field value?
8 Advanced Scaled Symbology
9 Clusters
- 9.1 Cluster layer - hw_road_accidents_display
- 9.2 hw_road_accidents
10 Legend Graphics
11 MasterMap Examples
- 11.1 GoLoader
- 11.2 TranspOSe/SuperpOSe

Polygon Fill Types

Using the HATCH symbol

The HATCH style allows for a line to be be used at any angle with any width, all defined in the .map file.

Description	CLASS snippet (from .map file)	Thumbnail

Description	CLASS snippet (from .map file)	Thumbnail
Standard horizontal (no ANGLE)	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE COLOR 196 0 0 SYMBOL "HATCH" SIZE 7 WIDTH 1 END STYLE OUTLINECOLOR 196 0 0 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 END END`
ANGLE 135	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE COLOR 196 0 0 SYMBOL "HATCH" ANGLE 135 SIZE 7 WIDTH 1 END STYLE OUTLINECOLOR 196 0 0 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 END END`
ANGLE 45	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE COLOR 0 0 196 SYMBOL "HATCH" ANGLE 45 SIZE 7 WIDTH 1 END STYLE OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 196 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 END END`
ANGLE 90	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE COLOR 0 0 196 SYMBOL "HATCH" ANGLE 90 SIZE 7 WIDTH 1 END STYLE OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 196 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 END END`
SIZE 10 how far inbetween WIDTH 4 how wide the HATCH is	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE COLOR 0 0 196 SYMBOL "HATCH" ANGLE 90 SIZE 7 WIDTH 1 END STYLE OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 196 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 END END`

Using Symbols for Filling Polygons

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail

Description

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POINT fill with CIRCLE

The use of GAP and SIZE to change the spread and the size of the circles

NOTE a separate STYLE is needed for the OUTLINE

		CLASS
			NAME "Postcode Areas"
			MAXSCALEDENOM 20000
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 6
				GAP 6
				COLOR 196 0 0
				OPACITY 60
			END
			STYLE
				OUTLINECOLOR 196 0 0
				WIDTH 2
				OPACITY 60
			END
		END
	END

Line Styles

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail
Single Line	`STYLE # thick outline COLOR 25 29 173 SIZE 2 END`
Double Line	`STYLE # thick outline COLOR 0 0 0 SIZE 6 END STYLE # colour middle COLOR 178 172 235 SIZE 3 END`

Point Styles

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail

Description

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Simple PIXMAP (external graphic) symbol

Here the SYMBOL is definined in the relevant symbols .sym file or in the MAP header - See Symbols & Styling for other examples.

		CLASS
			NAME ""
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "hospitals"
			END
		END

Scaled Symbology

Separate classes for scaled symbology and ensure that Legend Graphic isn't confusing. In this example there are three classes for emphasis.

In this example the size of the circle depends upon the zoom level.

		CLASS
			MAXSCALEDENOM 5000
			NAME ""
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				COLOR 255 255 128
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				SIZE 7
			END
		END
		CLASS
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				COLOR 255 255 128
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				SIZE 4
				MINSCALEDENOM 5000
				MAXSCALEDENOM 25000
			END
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				COLOR 255 255 128
				SIZE 2
				MINSCALEDENOM 25000
			END			
		END

Graduated Point Thematic

Graduated symbol size is handled by using a numerical attribute for the symbol size. In this example there are two classes for emphasis.

The CLASSITEM entry defines the field that is to be used in the EXPRESSION etc. size_percent in this example.

In the first CLASS we are saying that if the value of size_percent is less than 8, i.e. Minor Crime, then the colour will be blue. Also the size of the circle will be dependent upon the value of size_percent.
In the second CLASS, which will catch anything that doesn't match the first CLASS EXPRESSION, i.e. Major Crime, then the colour will be red. Here also the size of the circle will be dependent upon the value of size_percent.

CLASSITEM "size_percent"
CLASS
	NAME "Minor Crime"
	EXPRESSION ([size_percent] < 8)
	STYLE
		SYMBOL "circle"
		SIZE [size_percent]
		COLOR 0 0 255
	END
END
CLASS
	NAME "Major Crime"
	STYLE
		SYMBOL "circle"
		SIZE [size_percent]
		COLOR 255 0 0
	END
END

Boundary Styles

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail
Coloured Boundary – Transparent Fill	`STYLE COLOR -1 -1 -1 OUTLINECOLOR 222 0 0 WIDTH 2 END`
Coloured Boundary – Coloured Fill	`STYLE COLOR 156 215 57 OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0 WIDTH 2 END`

Labelling

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail
Label - with POSITION UC Place the Label as Upper Centre	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE SYMBOL "circle" COLOR 0 196 0 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 SIZE 16 END LABEL FONT "verdana" TYPE truetype SIZE 8 POSITION UC COLOR 0 0 0 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 MAXLENGTH 12 WRAP " " ALIGN CENTER BUFFER 10 END END`
Concatenate fields (TEXT) and then WRAP on their comma	`CLASS NAME "" TEXT "[stop_name],[place],[postcode]" STYLE SYMBOL "triangle" COLOR 0 196 0 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 SIZE 16 END LABEL FONT "verdana" TYPE truetype SIZE 8 POSITION UC COLOR 0 0 0 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 OUTLINEWIDTH 3 MAXLENGTH 12 WRAP "," ALIGN CENTER BUFFER 10 END END`
Concatenate fields inside an SQL if using PostgreSQL (as opposed to the TEXT "[field1] field2 etc" This gives utmost flexibility to how the text can be treated	`DATA "wkb_geometry from (select *, coalesce(pn::text,rn::text) as hwy_name from upload_multi.hw_saltng_ntwrk) as foo using unique ogc_fid using srid=27700" LABELITEM "hwy_name"`
ANGLE FOLLOW and MINFEATURESIZE AUTO With the second screen shot you can see how the labelling can now fit within the FEATURE and therefore MINFEATURESIZE AUTO allows for this MINFEATURESIZE also allows for the restriction according to the Minimum Bounding Rectangle of a feature (in pixels)	`CLASS NAME "" STYLE PATTERN 10 5 5 10 END WIDTH 2 COLOR 0 0 255 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 END LABEL FONT "verdana" TYPE truetype SIZE 7 POSITION LC COLOR 0 0 255 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 OUTLINEWIDTH 4 ANGLE FOLLOW MINFEATURESIZE AUTO END`
How can I label certain features and not others?	`CLASS NAME "Capitals" TEXT ([NAME]) EXPRESSION "1" STYLE SYMBOL "square" COLOR 0 0 0 SIZE 6 END LABEL FONT "arialbd" TYPE TRUETYPE COLOR 0 0 255 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 SIZE 10 POSITION cc END END CLASS NAME "Others" EXPRESSION ([Rank] > 1) STYLE SYMBOL "circle" COLOR 255 0 0 SIZE 3 END END`
As above with extra Label with different colour.	`CLASS NAME "Capitals" TEXT ([NAME]) EXPRESSION "1" STYLE SYMBOL "square" COLOR 0 0 0 SIZE 6 END LABEL FONT "arialbd" TYPE TRUETYPE COLOR 0 0 255 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 SIZE 10 POSITION cc END END CLASS NAME "Others" EXPRESSION ([Rank] > 1) STYLE SYMBOL "circle" COLOR 255 0 0 SIZE 3 END TEXT ([NAME]) LABEL FONT "arialbd" TYPE TRUETYPE COLOR 255 0 0 OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255 SIZE 8 POSITION cr END END`

Filtering

Description	Layer snippet	Thumbs

Description

Layer snippet

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How do I filter a layer to only certain features?

Change the counties layer to include - see the Layer snippet -->

Please note this is different to only drawing certain features as it is like having a subquery.

      FILTER "Cumbria"
      FILTERITEM "name"

How do I filter a layer to only draw certain features based on a field value?

Change the mainplaces Layer - see the Layer snippet -->

Have &Layer=mainplaces in the URL.

CLASSITEM "Rank"
      CLASS
         NAME "Capitals"
         EXPRESSION "1"
         STYLE
           SYMBOL "square"
           COLOR 0 0 0
           SIZE 6
         END
      END

How do I filter a layer to draw certain features in different styles based on a field value?

Change the mainplaces Layer - see the Layer snippet -->

Have &Layer=mainplaces in the URL.

CLASSITEM "Rank"
CLASS
   NAME "Capitals"
   EXPRESSION "1"
   STYLE
      SYMBOL "square"
      COLOR 0 0 0
      SIZE 6
   END
END
CLASS
   NAME "Others"         
   EXPRESSION ([Rank] > 1)
   STYLE
      SYMBOL "circle"
      COLOR 255 0 0
      SIZE 3
   END
END

Advanced Scaled Symbology

Description	Layer snippet	Thumbs

Description

Layer snippet

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Variable points styles depending on the scale of the map

		CLASS
			NAME ""
			MAXSCALEDENOM 50000
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "square"
				COLOR 255 128 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
				SIZE 16
			END
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "C"
				COLOR 255 255 255
				SIZE 10
			END
			LABEL
				FONT "verdana"
				TYPE truetype
				SIZE 8
				POSITION UC
				COLOR 255 128 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINEWIDTH 3
				BUFFER 10
				MAXSCALEDENOM 10000
			END		
		END

A little more complexity, if boundaries are too complex then transform the geometries (GEOMTRANSFORM) to their centroids at a certain scale

Other options include (from MapServer site)

Used to indicate that the current feature will be transformed before the actual style is applied. Introduced in version 5.4.

bbox: produces the bounding box of the current feature geometry.
centroid: produces the centroid of the current feature geometry.
end: produces the last point of the current feature geometry.
labelpnt: used for LABEL styles. Draws a marker on the geographic position the label is attached to.
labelpoly: used for LABEL styles. Produces a polygon that covers the label plus a 1 pixel padding.
start: produces the first point of the current feature geometry.
vertices: produces all the intermediate vertices (points) of the current feature geometry (the start and end are excluded).
<expression>: Applies the given expression to the geometry. Supported expressions:
- (buffer([shape],dist)): Buffer the geometry ([shape]) using dist pixels as buffer distance.
- (simplify([shape],tolerance)): simplifies a geometry ([shape]) .
- (simplifypt([shape],tolerance)): simplifies a geometry ([shape])
- (generalize([shape],tolerance)): simplifies a geometry
- (smoothsia([shape], smoothing_size, smoothing_iteration, preprocessing)): will smooth a geometry ([shape]) using the SIA algorithm
Example (polygon data set) - draw a two pixel wide line 5 pixels inside the boundary of the polygon:

STYLE OUTLINECOLOR 255 0 0 WIDTH 2 GEOMTRANSFORM (buffer([shape],-5)) END

		CLASS
			NAME "Postcode Areas"
			MAXSCALEDENOM 20000
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 6
				GAP 6
				COLOR 196 0 0
				OPACITY 60
			END
			STYLE
				OUTLINECOLOR 196 0 0
				WIDTH 2
				OPACITY 60
			END
			LABEL
				FONT "verdana"
				TYPE truetype
				SIZE 8
				POSITION UC
				COLOR 196 0 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINEWIDTH 3
				MAXLENGTH 12
				WRAP ","
				ALIGN CENTER
				BUFFER 10
				MAXSCALEDENOM 10000
			END		
		END
		CLASS
			NAME "Postcode Points"
			STYLE
				MINSCALEDENOM 20000
				SYMBOL "circle"
				GEOMTRANSFORM CENTROID
				COLOR 196 0 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
				SIZE 6
			END
		END	
	END

Clusters

Description	Snippet	Thumb

Description

Snippet

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CLUSTERS

This layer is combined with the hw_road_accidents layer it is purely for display purposes highlighting some of the advanced functionality of MapServer

Note the class Accident Clusters in the layer hw_road_accidents - the second class isn't used for map display (due to MAXSCALEDENOM) but is here for the GetLegendGraphic request

Cluster layer - hw_road_accidents_display

	LAYER 
		NAME "hw_road_accidents_display"
		REQUIRES "[hw_road_accidents]"
		STATUS DEFAULT
		TYPE POINT
		INCLUDE "datashare.inc"
		DATA "wkb_geometry from 
			(select * from upload_multi.ecc_road_acc) as foo
			 using unique ogc_fid using srid=27700"
		LABELITEM "Cluster:FeatureCount"
		CLASSITEM "Cluster:FeatureCount"
		CLUSTER
			MAXDISTANCE 50
			REGION "rectangle"
		END
		MINSCALEDENOM 25000
		CLASS
			NAME "Road Accidents"
			EXPRESSION ("[Cluster:FeatureCount]" == "1")
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 8
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 40 40 40
				WIDTH 2
			END
		END
		CLASS
			EXPRESSION ([Cluster:FeatureCount]>100 )
			NAME "Road Accidents"
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 50
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 10
			END	
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 40
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 30
			END			
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 32
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 40 40 40
				WIDTH 3
			END
			LABEL
				FONT "arialbd"
				TYPE truetype
				SIZE 10
				COLOR 0 0 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
			END
		END
		CLASS
			EXPRESSION ([Cluster:FeatureCount]>50 
				AND [Cluster:FeatureCount]<100 )
			NAME "Street crime"
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 40
				#COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 10
			END	
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 32
				#COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 30
			END			
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 24
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 40 40 40
				WIDTH 3
			END
			LABEL
				FONT "arialbd"
				TYPE truetype
				SIZE 8
				COLOR 0 0 0
				#OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
			END
		END
		CLASS
			EXPRESSION ([Cluster:FeatureCount]>20 
				AND [Cluster:FeatureCount]<50 )
			NAME "Street crime"
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 30
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 10
			END	
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 24
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 30
			END			
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 16
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 40 40 40
				WIDTH 3
			END
			LABEL
				FONT "arialbd"
				TYPE truetype
				SIZE 8
				COLOR 0 0 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
			END
		END
		CLASS
			EXPRESSION ([Cluster:FeatureCount]<20)
			NAME "Street crime"
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 26
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 10
			END	
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 20
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 30
			END			
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 16
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 40 40 40
				WIDTH 3
			END
			LABEL
				FONT "arialbd"
				TYPE truetype
				SIZE 8
				COLOR 0 0 0
				OUTLINECOLOR 255 255 255
			END
		END
	END

hw_road_accidents

	LAYER 
		NAME "hw_road_accidents"
		STATUS OFF
		TYPE POINT
		INCLUDE "datashare.inc"
		DATA "wkb_geometry from 
			(select * from upload_multi.ecc_road_acc) as foo
			 using unique ogc_fid using srid=27700"
		TOLERANCE 100
		UNITS PIXELS
		CLASS
			NAME "Actual accidents"
			STYLE
				MAXSCALEDENOM 25000
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 5
				COLOR 255 0 0 
			END			
		END
		CLASS
			NAME "Accident clusters"
			MAXSCALEDENOM 1
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 26
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 10
			END	
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 20
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 0 0 0
				WIDTH 6
				OPACITY 30
			END			
			STYLE
				SYMBOL "circle"
				SIZE 16
				COLOR 255 255 255
				OUTLINECOLOR 40 40 40
				WIDTH 3
			END
		END		
	END

Legend Graphics

Rely on NAME entry on CLASS
If no NAME entry then ignored - extremely powerful

MasterMap Examples

Description	Label Snippet	Thumbnail

Description

Label Snippet

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GoLoader

Showing an area of Coniferous trees

CLASSITEM "OSMMSTYLE_NAME"
CLASS
   EXPRESSION "scatteredConiferousTreePattern"
   STYLE
     COLOR 224 224 224
     OUTLINECOLOR 204 204 204
     SYMBOL "0380Scattered"
   END
END

TranspOSe/SuperpOSe

Showing an area of Non Coniferous trees

CLASSITEM "Legend"
CLASS
   EXPRESSION "0384 Nonconiferous trees"
   STYLE
     COLOR 0 0 0
     OUTLINECOLOR 204 204 204
     SYMBOL "0384"
   END
END

Configure MapServer Cartography

Symbols file

Polygon Fill Types

Using the HATCH symbol

Using Symbols for Filling Polygons

Line Styles

Single Line

Double Line

Point Styles

Simple PIXMAP (external graphic) symbol

Scaled Symbology

Graduated Point Thematic

Boundary Styles

Coloured Boundary – Transparent Fill

Coloured Boundary – Coloured Fill

Labelling

Label - with POSITION UC

Concatenate fields (TEXT) and then WRAP on their comma

Concatenate fields inside an SQL if using PostgreSQL

ANGLE FOLLOW and MINFEATURESIZE AUTO

How can I label certain features and not others?

Filtering

How do I filter a layer to only draw certain features based on a field value?

How do I filter a layer to draw certain features in different styles based on a field value?

Advanced Scaled Symbology

Clusters

Cluster layer - hw_road_accidents_display

hw_road_accidents

Legend Graphics

MasterMap Examples

GoLoader

TranspOSe/SuperpOSe